As you search thru our product guide, you will see a "Green
Tree" next to those products where the
manufacturer has provided their eco-friendly labels, certifications and
claims.

You will begin to learn that in each product category there are certain
attributes as well as certain claims that make one product more eco-friendly
than an other.

Most product categories offer environmentally
preferable-and less preferable-products.
Use certifications and affiliations with reputable "green" organizations
to help identify preferable products. Certified products may be harder
to find.

Certification covers only one or a limited set
of environmental, health, or social attributes.
Some certifications cover multiple attributes while others cover just
one. All products have an environmental impact, but a durable, high-performing
product may ultimately have a lower net impact than a product certified
for its environmental responsibility.

Certifications should be just one tool for evaluating
green products.
For example, it may make more sense for a project to use non-certified
wood from the region than certified wood from halfway around the world.

Not all certifications are equal.
Consumers and specifiers should find certifications that they trust and
standards that match their values. Look for proof of independence and
longstanding credibility. We have compiled a list of well known certifications
and organizations within the building industry. We recommend you check
them out for your self. (Green
Labels & Certifications)

What are first, second, or third party
Certification?

First-, second-, and third-party levels of certification
define the degree of separation between the certifier and the company
whose product is being certified. When evaluating a certification or claim
ask yourself who is certifying this.

First Party: Most marketing claims,
product specifications, and material data safety sheets are first-party
declarations that have not been independently tested or verified.

Second Party: This type of certification
can provide more credible information by involving a trade association
or outside consulting firm in setting a standard and verifying claims.
Second-party certification offers little assurance against conflicts of
interest, however.

Third Party: A certification is most
credible when an independent third party conducts the product testing
and awards the certification.

As a further measure of quality control,
a certifier can be ANSI-approved, which verifies the certifier's objectivity.
Helping to govern the world of standards and certifications is the International
Standards Organization (ISO). This international nongovernmental standard-setting
body, founded in 1947, includes representatives of national standard development
organizations, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
in the U.S. ISO defines terms and develops worldwide standards that frequently
become law or form the basis of industry norms.